It’s important to recognize that before Black women were ever celebrated as “designers,” they were highly sought-after dressmakers. Their skill with the needle was not only practical but artistic—producing garments that shaped households, communities, and even the wardrobes of the wealthy.

That sense of wonder, of freedom, of not having a single worry in the world. What a gift. If I can protect even a sliver of that little girl inside me, the one who still gets butterflies before big days, I’ll count that as a win.

The moment that truly left me humbled and inspired: sitting down with Madame Joyce Green, the new Directrice Générale of CHANEL France. Yes—CHANEL.

Weeks before the trip, I was asked if I’d lead this intimate conversation. Even before I fully understood the weight of it, I just knew I had to say yes.

Everyone can reach that level of mastery—but the reality is, not everyone is willing to do the digging it takes. Not everyone has the fortitude or the faith to follow through when the feelings fade, when the crowd isn’t cheering, when no one’s watching.